Apparatus for loading granular material into receptacles



Feb. 29, 1944. R. K. HELLMANN ,3 2,

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO RECEPTACLES Filed Nov. 18,1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fb.v29, 1944.

R. K. HELLMANN APPARATUS FOR LOADING GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO RECEPTACLESFiled Nov. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 #0 .P h M w Z m 0 ue M" h. A

29, R. K. HELLMANN 2,342,735 4 APPARATUS FOR LOADING GRANULAR MATERIALINTO RECEPTA'CLES Filed Nov. 18, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5llllllllllllllllllllllllll n =5 fie/hkard Kiel/ dorm hue/Pier Feb. 29,1944. HEL MANN 2,342,735

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO RECEPTACLES File'd Nov. 1a,1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feh. 29,1944

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,342.735 APPARATUS FOR LOADING GRANULARMATERIAL INTO RECEPTACLES Reinhard K. Hellmann, Meriden, Conn, assignorto Great American Industries, Inc., Meriden, Comm, a corporation ofDelaware Application November 18, 1943, Serial No. 510,758

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in loading-apparatus or-devices, and relates more particularly to improvements inloadingapparatus of the type designed and adapted to load or chargegranular material into recep= tacles. While suited for other purposes,the present invention is especially designed for loading granular carbonor the like into telephone transmitters, microphones, and the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superiorapparatus for loading granular material into rece tacles, which is characterized by uniformity of the loading-action with respect to a seriesor containers sequentially subjected to the action of the apparatus.

Another object of the present invent-ion is to provide a superiorapparatus of the character described whereby containers may be loadedwith granular material up to a predetermined level without requiring theweighing of the charges of granular material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superiorloading apparatus by means of which granular carbon, or the like, may'be loaded into transmitters and microphones and accurately leave apredetermined void therein free of such granular material.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are novel over the rior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which dertain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of one form of loading-apparatus embodyingthe present invention, with the parts shown in the positions which theyassume preparatory to the loading" of charges Of gfailiilal materialinto th transmitters or containers;

Fig. 2 is an edge View thereof, with the timeswitch omitted; I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing thestorage-cupstilted a result of the energization of the lifting-solenoid;

Fig. '5 is a brokentransverse sectional view taken on the line 5'.i ofFig. l and snowing granular material in the course of being loaded orcharged into a transmitter;

Fig. 6 is a View corresponding to Fig; 5 but showing the storage-cuptilted and in the process of discharging its excess contents into thediverting-chute;

Fig.- 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but showing the measuring-memberlifted to clear the morephone Fig. 8 is a perspective view of thecontainerholder, together with its latching-plates;

Fig. 9 is a top or plan view of the unit comprising the diverting-chuteand the measuringmember;

Fig. 10 is a side View thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the bar-like cup-holder, together withits storage-cups.-

The particular apparatus herein chosen for purposes of making clear oneform of the present invention, includes a base-plate l0, generally ofT-shaped form, and having mounted upon its rear portion a driving-motorII and an automatic time switch I2 having a starting-but- P ton l3.

Substantially-centrally intermediate the driving niotol H and thetime-switch l2, the baseplate H. is provided with an upstanding lug M inline with which, but spaced IorWardly therefrom, is an upstanding lug t5located adjacent the front edge of the base-plate Ill. Flanking the lugl5 on each of the respective opposite sides thereof respectively areupstanding lugs l6 and H. Respectively reciprocating in the upperportions of the lugs It and H are two horizontal guide-weds l8 and t9both rigid with and forwardly projecting from a horizontal bar-likecontainer-holder 20. Y

Rigidly connected to and projecting rearward 1y from the central portionof the containerholder 20 is a bracket 2| formed atits rear with acylindrically-contoured horizontal guide-Tod 22 reciprocating in theapertured up er end of the lug M before referred to. In combination-withthe two guide-rods l8 and I9 before referred to, the guid'e rod 22serves to mount the containerholder 20 in a position well above theupper surface of the base-plate I0 andwith capacity for reciprocation ina direction from front to rear with respect to the said base-"plate.

Rigid with and extending forwardly from the central portion of thecontainer-holder 2i), is a spring guidih-g rod 23' having its forwardend flfly passing through the apertures upper end of the upstanding lug{5 adjacent the forward edge: of the base-plate in. Fitting over theforward portion of the rod;- 23 and located against t. rear face of thelug I5; is a washer 24. Enmg the. spring-guiding rod 23 at a pointintermediate the back face of the washer 24 and the front face of thecontainer-holder 20, is a helical return-spring 2'6 exerting a constantbut yielding effort to shift the container-holder and the parts carriedthereby in a direction rearwardly of the apparatus. v 4

The rear end of the guide-rod 22 of the bracket 2!: is bifurcated andhas mounted therein a roller 2? adapted to be engaged by an ccentric cam28 mounted upcn the cuter end of the drive-shaft 29 of the driving-motorH. At each revolution of the driving-motor II (which may, for instance,be at the rate of 1800 R. P. M.) the cam 28 will force the roller 21,guide-rod 22, and bracket 2| forwardly, and through the intermediary ofthe said parts, will similarly force the container-holder and the partscarried thereby forwardly against the tension of the return-spring 26.When in its turning movement, the high point of the cam 28 movesrearwardly, the return-spring 26 will assert itself and move thecontainer-holder 20 and the parts carried thereby rearwardly,preparatory to another forward movement occasioned by the rotation ofthe cam 28. In this manner, the container-holder 20 and associated partswill be vibrated in a horizontal direction. Preferably, the tension ofthe return-spring 2B is such that the vibrating parts have a resonantfrequency substantially equal to the speed of the cam 28 to therebyminimize the power required to maintain the vibration referred to.

The bracket 2| before referred to is formed at a point above the planeof its unitary guiderod 22 with a horizontal passage 39 extending insubstantial parallelism with the drive-shaft 29 of the motor I and withthe bar-like containerholder 29. Extending through and rigidly fixed inthe passage 30 just referred to is a rod 3| having a length slightlyless than the length of the container-holder 20.

Pivotally connected at their respective rear ends to the rod 3|abovereferred to, are two corresponding diverting-chutes 32-32 respectivelylocated on opposite sides of the bracket 2|. The pivotal connection ofeach of the chutes 32-32 to the rod 3| is effected by perforating (Fig.10) 33-33 to receive the adjacent end of the rod 3|. As thus mounted,each of the diverting-chutes 32-32 is capable of being swung in avertical plane around the rod 3| as a center. To retain a givendiverting-chute against displacement lengthwise of the rod 3|, twocomplemental stopcollars 34-34 are secured to the rod 3| adjacent therespective opposite side-walls 33-33 of the given diverting-chute.

Each of the diverting-chutes 32-32 includes in addition to its twoside-walls 33-33 which are integrally joined at the front, a bottom-wall35 having its rear portion directed downwardly and rearwardly to providea pour-off lip 36 overhanging a removable receptacle 3! resting on theupper surface of the base-plate l0 and having a length suificient toextend beneath both of the said diverting-chutes 32-32.

Adjacent its forward end in a position over the longitudinal-center lineof the container-holder 20, each diverting-chute is formed in its bottomwall with a central aperture 38 into which downwardly projects a portionof what might aptly be termed a measuring-member designated by thereference character 39. The measuringmember 39 just referred to isbrazed or otherwise rigidly secured to the forward portion of itscomplemental diverting-chute 32 though obviously, if desired, the parts32 and 39 may be cast or otherwise formed in one piece.

Centrally depending from each measuringmember 39 and extending throughthe aperture 38 in the complemental diverting-chute 32, is ameasuring-sleeve 40 which is designed and adapted to extend within thecharging-opening of a container which it is desired to fill withgranular material. In the instance shown, the measuringsleeve 49 isdesigned and adapted, to fit within the charging-opening 4| formed inthe projectthe respective opposite side-walls ing neck-portion 42forming a feature of a telephone transmitter generally designated by thereference character 43, all as is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Extending vertically through the measuringmember 39 and itsmeasuring-sleeve 40 is a loading-passage flared at its upper end toprovide a throat 45. The cross-sectional area and the length of thedepending measuring-sleeve 40 are such as to occupy a predeterminedvolume of space when located in the charging-opening 4| or itsequivalent, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

At its forward end, each diverting-chute is provided with a handle 46 bymeans of which the outer end of the said chute and the parts carriedthereby may be manually swung upwardly around the rod 3| as a center.For the purpose of yieldingly holding the measuring-sleeves 40 of themeasuring-members 39 downwardly in the charging0pening 4| of thetransmitter 43, as is shown particularly well in Figs. 5 and 6, twosubstantially-U-shaped springs 41-41 are employed, one of which islocated adjacent each of the diverting-chutes 32-32. The cross-reach ofa'given spring 41 bears upon the upper edges of the sidewalls 33-33 of agiven diverting-chute 32 and has its rear ends anchored in the rod 3|.

Located above and extending in substantial parallelism with thecontainer-holder 20 is a barlike cup-holder 48. Mounted in and extendingdownwardly through the cup-holder 48 with capacity for limited verticalmovement, are two (more or less) storage-cups or -members 49-49, each ofwhich is yieldingly held down by a pair of springs 49a-49a. The two saidstorage-cups 49-49 are respectively located over one of the twomeasuring-members 39 and each of the said storage-cups is contracted atits lower end so as to fit within the throat of the adjacentloadhog-passages 44, as is shown particularly well in Fig. 5. In itslower end, each of the funnellike storage-cups 49-49 is formed with aloading-passage 50 adapted to communicate with the upper or outerportion of the loading-passage 44 in the adjacent measuring-member 39,as is also particularly well shown in Fig. 5.

Pivotally connected to the rear edge of the cup-holder 48 and extendingrearwardly therefrom are two corresponding lever-arms 5I-5l pivoted attheir respective rear ends to the rod 3| before referred to.

Rigidly attached at its respective opposite ends to the two lever-arms 5|-5l and extending therebetween is a horizontal lifting-bar 52 havingits forward lower edge normally resting upon the conical surface of acam-like lifting-head 53 mounted upon the forward end of a plunger-likearmature 54. The said armature 54 is formed of soft iron or othersuitable magnetic material and is adapted to reciprocate axially withina lifting-solenoid 55. The lifting-solenoid 55 is supported by anextension of the bracket 2| before referred to and, as is well known inthe art, includes a return-spring 56 indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, andexerting a constant but yielding effort to move the armature 54forwardly,

For the purpose of latching the cup-holder 48 in a tilted position, asindicated in Figs. 4, 6 and '7, a pair or latch-plates 5'l-51 areemployed and which are respectively located and rigidly fastened to therespective opposite ends of the container-holder 29. v Each of thelatch-plates 51-51 is formed with a latching-notch 58 adapted to receivethe front lower corner of the cup holder 48 in a manner as willhereinafter appear.

When the driving-motor II is started, its: eccentric cam 28 will act inconjunction with the helical return-spring 26 to reciprocate: or vibratethe bracket 2| and hence also vibrate the parts carried thereby,including the features 31, 32, 39, 4o, 43., 48 4'9, 5|, 52,. 54,. 55 and51'.

When the lifting-solenoid 55 is energized, it will draw rearwardly uponits armature 54 and thereby cause the lifting-head 53 to act through thelifting-bar 52 to swing both of the lever-arms 51-5 I upwardly andthereby tilt the cup hold'er 48 and the storage-cups 49-45- carriedthereby.

Preferably and as shown, the driving-motor fl and the lifting-solenoid55 are both controlled by the time-switch [2 in such manner that themotor H would operate for a predetermined length of time, and at somedesired point during the operation of the motor ll, the lifting-solenoid55 would be energized to discharge its function of tilting thestoragecups 59-49.

For purposes of making clear the operation of the apparatus illustratedin the accompanying drawings, let it be assumed that two containers,such as the telephone transmitters 43-43; areinstalled in the recesses59-59 in the containerholder 20. Let it further be assumed that theparts are in the position indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5. A charge ofgranular carbon (or other desired granular material) will b poured intoeach of the storage-cups 4949 in anamount in excess of what is known tobe required to fill one of the telephone transmitters 43 or othersuitable container. be started to coincidentally vibrate the"transmitters 4-3, measuring-members 39 and storage-cups 49-49 to'getherwith the associated parts). In this manner, the granular carbon will becaused to flow downwardly from each of the storagecups 49-49 through therespective loading-passages 50 thereof and through the respectiveloading-passages 44 of the measuring-members 39. and thence into thecomplemental transmitter 43' or other desired container. The vibrationwill effect the packing of the granular carbon to the desired extentinto the container (transmitter 43 in the instance shown).

While the driving-motor H is still effecting the vibration of the partsas before described, the Iifting solenoi'd 55 may be energized tothereby draw the armature 54 and Iifting-head 53 rearwardly. Themovement jfust referred to will effect the tilting of the cup-holder 48and its storage-cups 49-49 into the positions in which they areespecially well shown in Fig. 6.. The tilting of the storage-cups 49-49will also carry the surplus granular carbon still containedin the saidcups; to a position for discharge into the adjacent diverting-chute 32.at a point removed from the complemental loading-passage. 44. Due to thecontinued. vibration of the. parts, the surplus granular carbon will bevibrated: out of the storage-cups 49'--4'9' andv thence conveyed by thediverting-chutes 3Z32 into the receptacle 31'. Meanwhile, a largepercentagev of the granular carbon. remaining in the throat 45' of eachof the measuring-members 39 will be? vibrated out and carried. by theadjacent, diver ing-chute. 32 into. the. receptacle 31:. The condi--tions just referred to may be considered as: being shown. in Fig. 6.

When the cup-holder 4B. is tilted as above; de scribed, it. will belatched in. such position by the entry of its forward lower portion:into the re The driving-motor l'l may now container such as thetransmitter iisc that the parts assume substantially the positions inwhich they are shown in Fig. 7. The lifting. of a given measuring-member39' will remove its measuring-sleeve 40 from the charging-opening M orthe transmitter 43, thus permitting. such granular carbon as hadpreviously remained in the loading-passage 54 to drop into the saidtransmitter. Due to the fact that the bulk of the measuring-sleeve 40had previously preempted a larger volume of. the charging-opening iithan the volume of granular carbon remaining in its loading-passage 44,the level. of the granular carbon in the transmitter 43. willbe automatically left at a level below the outer end oi the charging-opening Has is illustrated in Fig. 7.

While the parts are in the relative positions illustrated. in Fig. 7,.the microphones 13' may be removed one at a time from beneathrtheircom.- plemental diverting-chutes and replaced with a fresh transmitter,following which, the forward end of the adjacent diverting-chute may belowered so that the adjacent measuring-sleeve is inserted into thecharging-opening of the fresh transmitter. The cup-holder 48 may now beunla-tched by manually lifting its outer edge and restored to theposition in which it is particularly well shown in Fig. 5 preparatory toreceiv ing a fresh charge of granular carbon. for r peating the; loadingof the fresh transmitter or other desired container;

While. in the instance shown, the entire. storage-cups or. -members. M:are vi stated, the tie sired effect may be achieved it only the outletends thereof are vibrated.

The invention may becarried" out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit" and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and present embc-diments are,therefore, to: be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended: claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: g

1. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve provided with aloadingpassa'ge'= extending therethrough, the said measuring-sleevebeing constructed" and arranged tofit within the charging-opening of acontainer in suchma'nrrer' that granular materiazl may be fed into: thecontainer through the: loading-passage in the said measuring sleeve; ahollow storage-member" associated with the said measuring-member andalsoa loading-passage normally communicating with an outer portion ofthe" leading-passage of the said: measuring-member to supply granularmateriat into the latter, the said hollow storagememberbeing shi-ftableto bring its leading passage out of registry with" the loading-passageof the said measuring-member to divert surplus granular materialthe'said storage member to a location elsewhere than into the loadingpassage in the said measuring-member; supporting-means movablysupporting the said storage-member in position wherein itsloading-passage communicates with the loadingpassage in the saidmeasuring-member; and vibrating-means coincidentally vibrating the saidmeasuring-member, the said storage-member, and the container beingcharged with granular material. I

2. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve extending downwardlytherefrom and provided with a substantially vertical loading-passage,the said measuringsleeve being constructed and arranged to extenddownwardly within the charging-opening of a container in such mannerthat granular material may be fed downwardly into the said containerthrough the loading-passage .in the said measuring-sleeve; a hollowstorage-member located above the said measuring-member and having aloading-passage normally communicating with an upper portion of theloadingpassage of the said measuring-member to supply granular materialinto the latter, the said hollow storage-member being shiftable to bringits loading-passage out of registry with the loadingpassage of the saidmeasuring-member to divert surplus granular material in the saidstoragemember to a location elsewherethan into the loading-passage inthe said measuring-member; supporting-means movably supporting the saidstorage-member in position wherein its loadingpassage communicates withthe loading-passage in the said measuring-member; and vibratingmeanscoincidentally vibrating the said measuringunember, the saidstorage-member, and the container being charged with granular material.

3. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve provided with aloading-passage extending therethrough, the said measuringsleeve beingconstructed and arranged to fit within the charging-opening of acontainer in such manner that granular material may be fed into the saidcontainer through the loading-passage in the said measuring-sleeve; adiverting-chute located adjacent the said measuring-member; a hollowstorage-member associated with the said measuring-member and also havinga loadingpassage normally communicating with an outer portion of theloading-passage of the said measuring-member to supply granular materialinto the latter, the said hollow storage-member being shiftable to bringits loading-passage out of registry with the loading-passage of the saidmeasuring-member to divert surplus granular material in the saidstorage-member into the said diverting-chute; supporting-means movablysupporting the said storage-member in position wherein itsloading-passage communicates with the loading-passage in the saidmeasuring-member; and vibrating-means coincidentally vibrat-- ing thesaid measuring-member, the said storagemember, and the container beingcharged with granular material.

4. An apparatus of the class'described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve provided with aloading-passage extending therethrough, the said measuring-sleeve beingconstructed and arranged to fit within the charging-opening of a,container in such manner that granular material may be fed into the saidcontainer through the loading-passage in the said measuring-sleeve; avibratable diverting-chute-located adjacent the said measuring-member;-a hollow storage-member associated with the said measuring-member andalso having a loading-passage normally communicating with an outerportion of the loading-passage of the said measuring-member to supplygranular material into the latter, the said hollow storagemember beingshiftable to bring its loading-passage out of registry with theloading-passage of the said measuring-member to divert surplus granularmaterial in the said storage-member into the said diverting-chute;supporting-means movably supporting the said storage-member in positionwherein its loading-passage communicates with the loading-passage in thesaid measuring-member; and vibrating-means coincidentally vibrating thesaid measuring-member, the said diverting-chute, the saidstorage-member, and the container being charged with granular material.

5. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve extending downwardlytherefrom and provided with a substantially-vertical loading-passage,the said measuring-sleeve being constructed and arranged to extenddownwardly within the charging-opening of a container in such mannerthat granular material may be fed downwardly into the said containerthrough the loading-passage in the said measuring-sleeve; adiverting-chute located adjacent the said measuring-member; a hollowstorage-member located above the said measuring-member and having aloading-passage normally communicating with an upper portion of theloading-passage of the said measuring-member to supply granular materialinto the latter, the said hollow storagemember being shiftable to bringits loading-passage laterally out of registry with the loadingpassage ofthe said measuring-member to divert surplus granular material in thesaid storagemember into the said diverting-chute; supporting-meansmovably supporting the said storagemember in position wherein itsloading-passage communicates with the loading-passage in the saidmeasuring-member; and vibrating-means coincidentally vibrating the saidmeasuringmember, the said storage-member, and the container beingcharged with granular material.

6. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve extending downwardlytherefrom and provided with a substantially vertical loading-passage,the said measuring-sleeve being constructed and arranged to extenddownwardly within the charging-opening of a contamer in such manner thatgranular material may be fed downwardly into the said container throughthe loading-passage in the said measuring-sleeve; a vibratablediverting-chute located adjacent the said measuring-member; a hollowstorage-member located above the said measurnag-member and having aloading-passage normally communicating with an upper portion of theloading-passage of the said measuring-member to supply granular materialinto the latter, the said hollow storage-member being shiftable to bringits loading-passage laterally out of registry with the loading-passageof the said measuring-member to divert surplus granular material in thesaid storage-member into the said diverting-chute; supporting-meansmovably supporting the said storage-member in position wherein itsloading-passage communicates with the loading-passage in the saidmeasuring-member; and vibrating-means coincidentally vibrating the saidmeasuring-member, the said diverting-chute, the said storage-member, andthe container being charged with granular material.

7. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: avibratable measuringmember having a measuring-sleeve provided with aloading-passage extending therethrough, the said measuring-sleeve beingconstructed and arranged to fit within the charging-opening of acontainer in such manner that granular material may be fed into the saidcontainer through the loading-passag in the said measuring-sleeve; adiverting-chut organized as a unit with the said measuring-member andvibratable therewith; a hollow storage-member associated with the saidmeasuring-member and also having a loadingpassage normally communicatingwith an outer portion of the loading-passage of the saidmeasuring-member to supply granular material into the latter, the saidhollow storage-member being shiftable to bring its loading-passage outof registry with the loading-passage of the said measuring-member todivert surplus granular material in the said storage-member into thesaid diverting-chute; supporting-means movably supporting the saidstorage-member in position wherein its loading-passage communicates withthe loading-passage in the said measuring-member; and vibrating-meanscoincidentally vibrating the unitary measuring-member anddivertingchute, the said storage-member, and the container being chargedwith granular material.

8. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: avibratable measuring-member having a measuring-sleeve extendingdownwardly therefrom and provided with a substantially-verticalloading-passage, the said measuring-sleeve being constructed andarranged to extend downwardly within the charging-opening of a containerin such manner that granular material may be fed downwardly into thesaid container through the loading-passage in the said measuring-sleeve;a diverting-chute organized as a unit with the said measuring-member andvibratable therewith; a hollow storage-member located above the aidmeasuring-member and having a loading-passage normally communicatingwith an upper portion of the loading-passage of the saidmeasuring-member to supply granular material into the latter, the saidhollow storagemember being shiftable to bring its loading-passagelaterally out of registry with the loadingpassage of the saidmeasuring-member to divert surplus granular material in the saidstoragemember into the said diverting-chute; supporting-means movablysupporting the said storagemember in a position wherein itsloading-passage communicates with the loading-passage in the saidmeasuring-member; and vibrating-means coincidentally vibrating theunitary measuringmember and diverting-chute, the said storagemember, andthe container being charged with granular material.

9. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a loading-passage constructed and arranged toregister with the charging-opening of a container in such manner thatgranular material may be fed into the said container through theloadingpassage in the said measuring-member; a hollow storage-memberassociated with the said measuring-member and having a loading-passagenorvibrating-means coincidentally vibrating the said measuring-member,the said storage-member, and the container being charged with thegranular material.

10. An apparatus of the class described, including in combination: ameasuring-member having a measuring-sleeve provided with aloading-passage extending therethrough, the said measuringsleeve beingconstructed and arranged to fit Within the charging-opening of acontainer in such manner that granular material may be fed into the saidcontainer through the loading-passage in the said measuring-sleeve; ahollow storagemember associated with the said measuringmember and alsohaving a loading-passage normally communicatin with an outer portion ofthe loading-passage of the said measuring-member to supply granularmaterial into the latter, the said hollow storage-member being shiftableto bring its loading-passage out of registry with the loading-passage 0fthe said measuring-member to divert surplu granular material in the saidstorage-member to a location elsewhere than into the loading-passage inthe said measuringmember; supporting-means movably supporting the saidstorage-member in position wherein its loading-passage communicates withthe loadingpassage in the said measuring-member; vibrating-meanscoincidentally vibratin the said measuring-member, the saidstorage-member, and the container being charged with granular material;time-controlled stop-means constructed and arranged to automaticallystop the aforesaid vibratory action after the lapse of a predeterminedperiod; and time-controlled shiftingmeans automatically shifting theloading-passage of the said storage-member out of registry with theloading-passage of the said measuring-member before the saidtime-controlled stop-means acts to effect the stoppage of the saidvibratory action.

11. A method for charging granular electroconductive material intotelephone transmitters and the like, which method includes: connectingthe outlet of a storage-member with the charging-opening of atransmitter; coincidentally vibrating both the said storage-member andthe said transmitter to cause the granular material to be charged intothe latter from the former; disconnecting the outlet of the saidstorage-member from the charging-opening of the said transmitter todivert excess granular material from the said storage-member to alocation elsewhere than into the said charging-opening; and vibratingthe said transmitter together with its charge of granular material afterthe aforesaid disconnection has been eiTected between th transmitter andthe said storage-member.

REINHARD K. HELLMANN.

